Means for opening and closing panels of musical instruments.



PATENTED JAN. '7, 1908.

W. J. KEELEY.

MEANS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING PANELS 0F MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.5,1906

UNITEDSTATES PATENT omuon WILLIAM J. KEELEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NOR TO AUTOPIANO COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MEANS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING PANELS OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

To all whom it may concern: Y

Be it knownthat 1, WILLIAM J. KEELEY,

a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Means for Opening and Closing and organs having automatic players incor-' poratedtherein, and alsocabinet piano players or console players as they are sometimes called, it is customary to house the pedals within the casing of the instrument so that when the "automatic'playing attachment is not used, the instrument presents the ordinary appearance. This housing is usually done by providing the instrument with an openin which is covered by a sliding panel. Difficu ty has been found in arranging this panel so that it can be easily opened and closed.

The obj ect of this invention is to provide a simple means for this purpose so' arranged that the panel can be conveniently opened and closed, and also to arrange the sliding panel and its operating mechanism so that there will be no loose parts to jingle or rattle as the instrument is played. To. accomplish this end, the operating means for the sliding panel is arranged so as to prevent all jar or vibration both when the panel is closed and when opened, as the instrument is played by hand. when the panel is closed, and by the attachment when the panel is opened.

The apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawing; referring to which Figure 1 is a partial front elevation of part of a casing with my improvement applied thereto, the sliding panel being in its lowest or closed position. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the panel in its raised or opened position. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the device, and Fig. .4 is a sectional plan view of the device.

Referring to the drawing and in dptail, A designates part of the casing of the instrument. Arranged in the casing are two uprights 10 which assist in supporting the upper part of the casing and have ribs 11. on their opposed faces. A panel P is fitted to slide inthese uprights, said panel having ribs 1212, which fit against the ribs on the uprights, so that the panel will be guided Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed January 5.1906- $erial No. 294.714.

Patented Jan. 7, 1908.

, vertically. 'W' heels or. rollers 13 are secured on these ribs to engage the uprights, the ribs ll. fitting in between the panel and the wheels, as illustrated. A block or hearing piece 14 is secured to the back of the panel. Pi'voted to this block is a link 15, the other end of which is connected to the long arm of a bell-crank lever L. 'ihe bell-crank lever is pivoted to a bearing 1.6 secured to one of the uprights. The short end of the bellorank lever L is connected by a link 17 to a rod 18, the link being pivoted both to the short end of said bell-crank lever and to said rod 18. The end of the rod to which the link 17 is pivoted is bent to form a crank arm, The rod 18 is journaled in bearings iii-19, one of which is.within, and the other of which is without the casing ofthe instrument, the latter being located on the underside of the overhanging part of the case. A handle 20 is secured on the end of the rod 18 near the front of thejun'derside of the overhanging part of. the case in convenient position to be manipulated by the operator. The rodlS fits somewhat tightly in its bearings 1919.

'It is desirable to counterbalance the sliding panel at all heights and places. This maybe done by various means: by a counterwei ht, by -friction or a balancing s ring. pre er a leaf-spring arranged asfol ows: A eat-spring S is arranged between a block secured on the rear of one of the uprights and an intermediate point of the long arm of: the bell-crank lever L. This sprin will serve to counter-balance the weight of the panel P, so that it can be easily raised and lowered by manipulating the handle 20, and also will serve to take up all lost motion in the 0 erating parts, so that rattles and jingles wil be prevented both when the panel is raised and when the same is lowered. When the panel is raised it slides up in behind a cover-board 21, shown in Fig. 3, and the panel is supported entirely independently of the cover board by the uprights 10. Any of the usual folding pedal-arrangements is arranged in the casing behind the opening which is closed by the panel. Spring catches 22-22 are arranged to engage the panel both in its lowered and raised positions.

By the arrangements described a simple and eliicient apparatus is provided for the purpose stated.

Vhile I have illustrated "and described a particular form in which I prefer to embody my invention, I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departin from the spirit of the invent-ion as expresse in the claims.

Having thus full described my invention, what I claim and esire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A musical instrument having a casing provided with an overhanging art, a sliding panel for the lower portion 0 said casing, means connected with the panel for operating it comprising a shaft located on the under side of the overhanging part of the casing, and means on the shaft for turning it to operate the sliding panel, the last named means being located under the overhanging portion and near the front thereof.

2. A musical instrument having a casin a panel fitted to slide thereon, a bell-cran: lever pivoted to the casing, a link connecting one arm of the bell-crank lever to the panel,

leaf-spring arranged between the casing and this arm of the bell-crank lever, an o eratin rod journaled in bearings and providhd wit a handle the inner end of the o erating, rod being bent intoia crank arm, and a linkohm necting the bent arm of the crank rod "with the other arm of the bell-crank lever.

3; A musical instrument having a casing comprising a cover board, uprights behih" the cover board assisting in supporting the upper part of the casing, said upri hts having ribs on their opp'osed faces and a panel slidable along said ribs supported independently of the cover board.

In'testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two-subscribing witnesses. I i

7 WILLIAM J. KEELEY. Witnesses:

TH. DANQUARD, I WM. P. toLLrns. 

